Flash memory card expander

ABSTRACT

Method and system for expanding the memory capacity of devices that use flash memory cards. In one aspect, a memory card expander assembly includes an adaptor shaped to be connected to a memory card slot of a host device, and a receptacle assembly in communication with the adaptor and operative to be attached to the host device. The receptacle assembly includes an expanded memory card slot operative to connect to a memory card such that the host device can communicate with the connected memory card when the adaptor is connected to the memory card slot.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to device memory, and moreparticularly to a method and system for expanding the memory capacity ofdevices that use memory cards.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Removable flash memory storage cards such as Multi Media Card (MMC) andSecure Digital (SD) cards are increasingly being used in portabledevices to obtain more storage for digital data, such as programs andcontent. Electronic devices such as smart cell phones, multimediaphones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), MP3 players, digital stillcameras and digital video recorders provide build-in slots for insertionof removable memory storage cards such as MMCmobile, MMCmicro, miniSDand microSD cards. These reduced-size form factor cards are preferredbecause a typical portable device must be lightweight and small in sizeto fit in a user's hand. Due to very tight spacing, the slot availableinside a device typically is designed to use the smallest card availablein the market. While this keeps the host device size small, the smallestform factor cards usually cannot provide as much memory density as thelarger, standard size cards, and thus have less memory. Currently thesmallest form factor cards in the market are the microSD and theMMCmicro cards that are about the size of a fingernail.

Although these miniaturized cards can allow a small and thin portableelectronic device to use a small space for the insertion slot, the cardsthemselves are limited in the amount of flash memory they can carry.Currently, for instance, the maximum capacity of a standard MMC card is4 gigabytes (GB); for the miniaturized MMCmicro, the maximum capacity isonly 512 megabytes (MB) or 1 GB. Similarly, the capacity of the microSDcard currently is 1 GB, compared to 2 GB for standard size SD cards.Although nonvolatile flash memory semiconductor IC chips will continueto increase in memory capacity as the transistor process parametersshrink in size (die-shrink) and hence offers more memory capacity perunit die area, the miniaturized micro memory cards will always lagbehind their larger sibling cards in total capacity, due to the physicallimit in size and thickness. The number of IC chips and sizes that canfit inside small cards are limited compared to the larger cards.

After a removable card has been inserted into a portable device slot,the card capacity defines the amount of memory capacity the portabledevice can utilize, in addition to any built-in memories of the device.For example, if a 256 MB card is inserted into a card slot of a cellphone, the phone has the capacity of 256 MB (in addition to the phone'sinternal memory). This memory capacity is not expandable or scalable,unless the card is replaced with another card having a higher capacity,say, 512 MB. If a user wishes to have even higher capacity, he or shewill have to wait for the card manufacturers to provide a newreduced-size card having higher memory capacity.

Accordingly, what is needed is the ability to expand the memory capacityof electronic portable devices using reduced sized memory cards withouthaving to replace such memory cards with higher capacity cards, andwithout affecting the portability of the devices. The present inventionaddresses such a need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a method and system for expanding thememory capacity of devices that use memory cards. In one aspect of theinvention, a memory card expander assembly includes an adaptor shaped tobe connected to a memory card slot of a host device, and a receptacleassembly in communication with the adaptor and operative to be attachedto the host device. The receptacle assembly includes an expanded memorycard slot operative to connect to a memory card such that the hostdevice can communicate with the connected memory card when the adaptoris connected to the memory card slot. For example, the connected memorycard can have a different form factor and a higher memory capacity thanallowed by the memory card slot of the host device.

In another aspect of the invention, a memory card expander assemblyincludes an assembly housing including an openable cover and operativeto be attached to the housing of a host device. An adaptor shaped forconnection to the intended memory card slot connection of the hostdevice is also included; the adaptor is connected to the memory cardslot when the expander assembly is in use. The adaptor can be securedwithin the assembly housing and under the cover of the assembly housingwhen the expander assembly is not in use. A receptacle assembly providedin the assembly housing is also included; the receptacle assembly isable to communicate with the adaptor. The receptacle assembly includesan expanded memory card slot operative to connect to a memory card suchthat the host device can communicate with the connected memory card whenthe adaptor is connected to the memory card slot.

The present invention provides a memory expander for an electronicdevice that uses the existing memory card slot of the host device toallow standard, larger-sized memory cards to be connected to the hostdevice. This offers limitless interchangeability of memory cards andimmediate scalability and expansion of the memory capacity of the hostdevice at a reduced cost per memory capacity. Furthermore, the memoryexpander of the present invention is attachable to a portable hostdevice without substantially altering the physical form, fit, andfunction of the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art mobile device having aminiaturized flash memory card slot and a flash memory card forinsertion into the slot;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a host mobile device and twosubassemblies of the present invention, the flexible insert adaptor andcard connector;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of an assembled subassembly of theexpander assembly of the present invention, including a flexible capableadaptor connected to a card connector, and a flash memory card;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a baseboard assembly includingsupport for the adaptors and the flash memory card connector of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the housing of the assembly of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the expander assembly of the present inventionincluding side openings for selective positioning of the first adaptor;

FIG. 7A is a side view of the expander assembly of the present inventionwith the external shell in a flip open position;

FIG. 7B is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the expanderassembly of the present invention in with the external shell in the flipopen position;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a host device and an alternate wirelessembodiment of the expander of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the expander assembly of the present inventionattached to the back of a host device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates generally to device memory, and moreparticularly to a method and system for expanding the memory capacity ofdevices that use memory cards. The following description is presented toenable one of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the inventionand is provided in the context of a patent application and itsrequirements. Various modifications to the preferred embodiments and thegeneric principles and features described herein will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art. Thus, the present invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accordedthe widest scope consistent with the principles and features describedherein.

The memory card expander device of the present invention uses theexisting memory card slot in a host device and enables expansion of thememory capacity of the host device by connecting to an external cardconnector that is attachable to the host device without substantiallyaltering the physical form, fit, and function of the host device.Through the use of an external cord connector, larger-sized memory cardshaving higher memory capacity and lower cost may be used interchangeablywith the host device, thereby offering instant access to higher capacitymemory cards instead of requiring the user to pay a premium for aminiaturized card or wait for the next generation of IC die-shrink andmemory capacity increase to be available.

The present invention provides an expander having an externalconnector/adaptor for standard size memory cards. This offersflexibility; for example, any type of SD and MMC cards and theirrespective adaptors (for MMCmobile, miniSD, etc.) can be inserted intothe expander connector. A user can replace a memory card with anotherfresh memory card, e.g., after having filled the memory capacity of theoriginal memory card.

Another advantage is that by using a connector that accepts standardsize memory cards, the cost per memory density is reduced, sincestandard memory cards usually cost less than equivalent-capacityminiaturized memory cards. This invention can utilize a variety ofstandard flash memory cards that are interchangeable.

The expander of the present invention is therefore a low cost solutionthat is versatile and permits immediate scalability to expand tohigher-density memory cards as well as limitless replacement of memorycards.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art mobile phone handset 11.Handset 11 includes a flash memory card insert slot 12 on its lowerright-hand side. A microSD card 13 (or other type of designated cardthat fits the slot) can be inserted into the slot 12 to provide on-boardflash memory to the handset device 11. The amount of memory is confinedto the memory contained in the microSD card 13. When inserted, thecontact pads 15 (gold fingers) located on the backside of the microSDcard 13 are each mated to the matching contacts 14 inside the hostdevice slot 12 to provide electrical interconnection between host deviceand memory card.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a host mobile device 11 and twosubassemblies of the present invention shown below the device 11 and foruse with the device 11. Host device 11 can be a portable, handheld,mobile device, such as a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA),MP3 player, global positioning system (GPS) device, pager, remotecontrol, game device, or other electronic device. In alternateembodiments, the host device 11 can be larger sized and not handheldand/or portable.

The first subassembly 20 is a two-adaptor cable connector including afirst insert adaptor 23 having contact pads 22 and shaped to fit andconnect to the device slot 12. The first adaptor 23 can have one of manypossible form factors. For example, the adaptor 23 can have the sameform factor as miniSD, microSD, SD, MMCmobile, MMCmicro, MMC Plus, MMC,Universal Serial Bus (USB), USB, Mini USB, Micro USB, Compact Flash(CF), Memory Stick from Sony Corp., Memory Stick Micro, Memory StickPRO, or other commonly used card formats, as appropriate for the device11 and its memory card slot 12.

It should be noted that the term “slot” is used herein to refer to thememory card connection port of a host device or connector, and isintended to generically refer to any such port, whether that port'sconnective operability is implemented as an opening that receives amemory card, or is implemented in another form, e.g., one or moreprojections to engage a slot on a connected memory card, etc. The cardslots described in the embodiments herein typically take the form ofopenings into which a memory card is inserted.

Adaptor 23 includes I/O contact pads 22, shown in the example of FIG. 2as a group of exposed parallel pads. Pads 22 are electrically connectedto traces inside a flexible cable 24, which can be a thin, ribbon-likeflexible cable, for example. Each individual conductor in the cable 24is connected to a contact pad 22. In the described embodiment, theopposite end of the cable 24 is connected to a second adaptor insert 25that can also be shaped like the memory card to which adaptor 23conforms in shape (e.g., any of the types of flash memory card describedabove for the adaptor 23, or other type of memory card), or shaped to adifferent form factor. Second adaptor 25 includes contact pads 26 whichare electrically connected to the conductors in the cable 24, where eachpad 26 forms the opposite terminal of a corresponding pad 24.

The second subassembly 21 is a receptacle assembly including a flashmemory card connector 28 and receptacle 29. The card connector 28 canreceive one of a wide variety of types of memory cards in differentembodiments, including the types mentioned above for the first adaptor23. In some embodiments, a universal card connector 28 can be used whichcan connect to multiple types of memory cards. In typical usage, thecard connector 28 will accept a physically larger sized memory card thanthe host slot 12 can accept. The second adaptor 25 of subassembly 20 canbe inserted into the receptacle 29 (e.g., card slot) of the flash memorycard connector 28, i.e., the receptacle 29 is shaped so that it canreceive and connect to the second adaptor 25. Inside the receptacle 29is a group of mating contact pins 27 for electrical connection to thecontact pads 26 of the second adaptor 25. The contact pins 27 are, inturn, connected to metallic spring clip contacts (not shown) inside thecard connector 28. Details of the interconnection are described belowwith reference to FIG. 4.

In some embodiments, the subassembly 20 and receptacle 29 can be made sothat the subassembly 20 can be reversed, allowing the first adaptor 23to be inserted in receptacle 29 and the adaptor 25 inserted in the hostdevice slot 12. For example, this may be useful for a different hostdevice 11 having a different host slot 12, and adaptor 25 is providedwith a form factor that matches the different host slot 12. In otherembodiments, multiple subassemblies 20 can be available andinterchangeable with the receptacle 29. For example, each subassembly 20can have the same adaptor 25 and a different adaptor 23 with a differentform factor. A subassembly 20 having an adaptor 23 that matches the formfactor of the host device slot 12 can be chosen and its adaptor 25connected to receptacle 29.

It should be noted that the orientation of the first adaptor 23 in theembodiment shown in FIG. 2 is in a front-side up position with contactpads 22 located on the backside facing down, and includes a notched side32 on the upper edge as oriented in FIG. 2. The second adaptor 25 is inthe same orientation with a notched side 33 up, but it is in thebackside up position with the contact pads 26 facing up. This way, pin 1of the contact pad group 22 is aligned to pin 1 of the contact padsgroup 26 through the parallel, individual trace interconnection insidethe flexible cable 24.

In a different embodiment, adaptor 25 (for example) can be shaped to thesame form factor as adaptor 23, and adaptor 25 is attached to cable 24having the notched side 34 in the down position, i.e., opposite to thenotched side 33 of the other adaptor 23. Since pin 1 of the contact padsgroups 26 and 22 would be on opposite sides, the individual traceinterconnection inside the flexible cable 24 can be crossed within thecable 24 or within one of the adaptors 23 or 25. Either adaptor 23 or 25can be plugged into the receptacle 29. This configuration can allow easyconnection between the subassembly 20 and the host card slot 12 by usingthe appropriate adaptor 23 or 25 having an orientation which best fitsthe host card slot 12. For example, the host card slot 12 may be in anorientation which requires twisting the cable 24 to insert the adaptor23, but this twisting could be avoided by using the adaptor 25 having anorientation better aligned with the host card slot 12 based on therelative positions of host device 11 and expander assembly of thepresent invention.

In an alternate embodiment, the cable 24 can be connected directly tothe card connector 28 and second subassembly 21 without the use of asecond adaptor 25 (first adaptor 23 is still used to connect to the hostdevice card slot 12). For example, in such an embodiment, eachindividual conductor in the cable 24 can be directly connected to acorresponding contact pin 27 in the connector 28.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the assembled subassembly ofthe bare adaptor, cable, and reader portion 30 of the expander assemblyof the present invention. Expander portion 30 is shown without abaseboard support or an external covering shell. The expander portion 30is assembled by inserting the second adaptor 25 from the two-terminalcable connector 20 shown in FIG. 2, into the receptacle opening 29 ofthe flash memory card connector 28. An external flash memory card 31 isshown next to the card adaptor 28, ready for insertion into the memorycard slot of the card connector 28. Once the second adaptor 25 isinserted into the receptacle 29 of the card connector 28, its contactpads 26 are electrically connected to the individual metallic pincontacts 27 inside card connector 28.

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of a baseboard assembly of thepresent invention. Baseboard 44 is used to seat the assembledadaptor/cable/card connector assembly 30 shown in FIG. 3. In thedescribed embodiment, baseboard 44 has a curved edge at one end, wherethe first adaptor 23 is positioned. Other embodiments can use othershapes for the baseboard and other parts of the housing. The firstadaptor 23 rests on the top surface of the baseboard 44 with animpression or insert in the baseboard, or other fastening mechanism, tosecure the adaptor 23 in place.

The flexible cable 24 is stored in a retractable spool as shown toprovide compact storage of the cable. In the described embodiment, thespool is spring loaded to allow the cable 24 to be automaticallyretracted onto the spool with ease, unless the cable is pulled withsufficient force. The second adaptor 25 is shown plugged inside the slot29 of the card connector 28. The electrical connections of the contactpins 27 inside the slot 29 are shown as individual circuit traces 45routed between the pins 27 and metallic contact pins 46 inside the cardconnector 28. The top cover surface of the card connector 28 has arecessed, curved edge 47 for ease of insertion of an external card 31that is shown inserted inside the card connector 28 in FIG. 4.

The card connector 28 can provide a physically larger-sized memory cardslot than the slot 12 of the host device 11 in FIG. 1 or 2. This allowsa physically larger memory card to be connected to the host device 11,which can provide greater memory capacity than smaller cards for a lowercost to the user.

FIG. 5 is a top cross-sectional view of the housing of the assembly ofthe present invention. A cover shell 51 is placed on top of thebaseboard assembly shown in FIG. 4. In the embodiment shown, one end ofthe shell 51 has a curved shape to conform to the size and shape of thebaseboard 44. The opposite end of the shell 51 has a memory card slotopening 56 to allow for insertion of external memory cards. On each sideof the cover shell 51 are narrow openings 53 that allow for positioningof the flat cable 24 when the cable 24 and the first adaptor 23 are tobe removed from the resting place on the baseboard 44 for insertion intothe slot of a host device. This is described in detail below withrespect to FIG. 9.

Underneath the baseboard 44 and along each perimeter side edge are twostrips 55 of adhesive tape, Velcro cloth, or other adhesive material.The adhesive strips 55 adhere the expander device to the backsidesurface of the housing of the host device 11, again to be describedbelow with respect to FIG. 9. For example, the bottom perimeter of thebaseboard can include recessed grooves for placement of the adhesivestrips used to adhere the expander to the surface of the host device.Other adhesive materials or mechanisms can be used in other embodiments.

There are also two hinges 57 located at the two corners of the shell 51near the side having a slot opening 56. These hinges 57 are forfastening the shell 51 to the baseboard 44 and for allowing the shell 51to lift and pivot to an open position that allows the user to access thefirst adaptor 23 in its secured position within the housing of theassembly. Alternate embodiments can use other fastening mechanisms thatallow the shell to open and provide user access to the adaptor 23. Forexample, sliding hinges can be used for allowing linear translation ofthe shell relative to the baseboard

FIG. 6A is a side view of the expander assembly 60 of the presentinvention. The baseboard 44 is located at the bottom of the assembly 60and beneath the shell 51. The flexible ribbon cable 24 is shownretracted into a shell 51 in a spool inside the shell. On the undersidesurface of the baseboard 44 are adhesive strips 55, which attach theassembly 60 to a host device when in use. The top surface of cardconnector 28 and its contact pins 46 inside the cavity 65 are shown. Anexternal flash memory card (not shown) can be inserted through theopening side 56 of the expander assembly 60.

Multiple openings 53 are provided in the sidewall of the shell 51, shownin FIG. 6 at three locations along each side of the shell 51. One of theopenings 53 is to be used for selective positioning and routing of theflexible cable 24 to align the adaptor and cable to the host memory cardslot when the first adaptor 23 is removed from the shell and connectedto the host device. The shell 51 is designed to have a low profile so asnot to result in excessive total height of the expander assembly 60.This way, even after attaching to the host device, the expander 60 willnot adversely or substantially alter the form, fit and function of thehost device. Other embodiments can have additional or fewer sidewallopenings, which can be positioned in different locations of thesidewall, top, or other areas of the housing of the expander assembly60.

FIG. 7A is a side view of the expander assembly 60 in which the topshell 51 is shown pivoted to the open position to allow the firstadaptor 23 to be accessible for removal from its rest location on thebaseboard 44. Once the adaptor 23 is removed, the adaptor 23 andflexible cable 24 are extended to the length needed to reach the memorycard slot 12 of the host device 11. The flexible cable 24 is “locked” inplace by positioning the flexible cable 24 through one of the sixopening slots 53 on either side of the shell 51, and closing the topshell 51 over the cable 24 to secure the cable in place in the opening.The cable 24 is preferably positioned through the available slot opening53 which best aligns the flexible cable 24 to the intended host deviceslot, as determined by the position of the card slot 12 on the hostdevice 11.

FIG. 7B is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the expanderassembly 60′ in which the top shell 51 is shown pivoted to the openposition. In embodiment 60′, no openings in the shell or other parts ofthe housing are needed. A compliant strip 54 can be attached to the edgeor rim of the shell, and can be made of a compliant or compressiblematerial. Compliant strip 54 of the shell housing contacts the baseboard44 when the shell 51 is in the closed position. When the cable andadaptor 23 are fully retracted into the housing, the strip 54 seals theshell to the baseboard in the closed position. When the shell is opened,the adaptor removed from the housing and the cable is extended, thecable 24 can be pulled out at any angle to any desired location. Whenthe shell is closed, the cable is sealed tight and locked in place bythe strip 54 at the rim, which compresses and conforms around the cableto allow the shell to be fully closed and contacts the baseboard 44 atthe other locations around the cable and the other location of the shell51.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the expanderassembly of the present invention. In this embodiment, the flexiblecable 24 between the first adaptor and the card connector has beenremoved so that wireless data communication can be utilized. A firstadaptor 124 includes a wireless RF transceiver 123, including a wirelesstransmitter and wireless receiver, and functions as an I/O insert, suchas a Flash card SD I/O insert, to the memory card slot 12 of the hostdevice 11. A “remote” card connector 126 includes a wireless RFtransceiver that includes a wireless transmitter for wirelesslytransmitting data from an inserted external memory card 125 to areceiver of the transceiver 123 of the first adaptor 124, and a wirelessreceiver for wirelessly receiving data from the transceiver 123 forstorage in the external memory card 125. The card connector 126 caninclude adhesive strips or other adhesive fixtures on its back or otherside that attach the card connector 126 to the host device 11. In otherembodiments, other types of wireless communication can be used, e.g.,infrared or other electromagnetic communication.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the expander assembly 60 of the presentinvention and a host device 11, where the expander assembly is attachedto the backside of the housing of the host device 11. As explainedabove, adhesive strips (or other physical connectors) can be used tosecure the assembly to the housing of the host device. In otherembodiments, the expander assembly 60 can be attached to other portionsor surfaces of the host device 11.

The embodiment of FIGS. 2-7 is shown in the example of FIG. 9. The firstadaptor 23 has been inserted into the flash card slot 12 of the hostdevice 11. The cable 24, which is advantageously flat, wraps around theedge of the host device backside, leaving the exposed portion of thecable as shown, and is tugged by the spool inside the expander shell 51through one of the side opening slots 53.

A similar configuration can also be used for the wireless embodiment ofthe expander assembly shown in FIG. 8, where the card connector can beattached to the backside (or other surface) of the host device andcommunicate wirelessly with the first adaptor 124 that has been insertedin the memory card slot of the host device 11.

As shown in FIG. 9, the expander assembly of the present inventionenables expansion of the memory capacity of the host device through theuse of the host's existing memory card slot. The expander assembly 60has a thin profile and is compact in size and form, and thus, when it isattached to the housing of a compact, handheld host device, does notsubstantially alter the physical form, fit, and function of that hostdevice.

Through the use of an external cord connector, larger-sized cards havinghigher memory capacity and lower cost may be used interchangeably withthe host device, thereby offering instant access to higher capacitymemory cards instead of paying a premium for a miniaturized memory cardor waiting for the next generation of IC die-shrink and memory capacityincrease to be available.

Although the present invention has been described in accordance with theembodiments shown, one of ordinary skill in the art will readilyrecognize that there could be variations to the embodiments and thosevariations would be within the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. Accordingly, many modifications may be made by one ofordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe appended claims.

1. A memory card expander assembly comprising: an adaptor shaped to be connected to a memory card slot of a host device; and a receptacle assembly in communication with the adaptor and operative to be attached to the host device, wherein the receptacle assembly includes an expanded memory card slot operative to connect to a memory card such that the host device can communicate with the connected memory card when the adaptor is connected to the memory card slot.
 2. The memory card expander assembly of claim 1, wherein the adaptor has a first physical size, and wherein the expanded memory card slot has a second physical size larger than the first physical size.
 3. The memory card expander assembly of claim 2 wherein the connected memory card having the second physical size is able to hold a greater amount of memory than a memory card having the first physical size.
 4. The memory card expander assembly of claim 1 wherein the host device is a handheld or portable device, and wherein the receptacle assembly is attached to a housing of the host device by an adhesive material.
 5. The memory card expander assembly of claim 1 wherein the receptacle assembly is connected to the adaptor via a flexible cable.
 6. The memory card expander assembly of claim 1 wherein the adaptor is a first adaptor in a subassembly, wherein the subassembly further comprises a second adaptor coupled to the first adaptor by a flexible cable, and wherein the second adaptor is connected to a receptacle in the receptacle assembly.
 7. The memory card expander assembly of claim 6 wherein the second adaptor is shaped differently than the first adaptor, wherein the first adaptor can be connected to the receptacle assembly and the second adaptor can connect to other host devices having a memory card slot that fits the second adaptor.
 8. The memory card expander assembly of claim 6 wherein the subassembly is a first subassembly that can be disconnected from the receptacle of the receptacle assembly and a second subassembly can be connected to the receptacle, wherein the second subassembly includes a first adaptor having a different form factor than the first adaptor of the first subassembly, allowing the second subassembly to connect to other host device memory card slots to which the first adaptor of the first subassembly cannot connect.
 9. The memory card expander assembly of claim 1 wherein the receptacle assembly is provided in a housing of the memory card expander assembly, and wherein the adaptor can be stored in the housing when not connected to the memory card slot.
 10. The memory card expander assembly of claim 9 wherein the housing includes a cover openable by user to allow the user to remove the adaptor from the housing or place the adaptor in the housing.
 11. The memory card expander assembly of claim 10 wherein the receptacle assembly is connected to the adaptor via a flexible cable, and wherein at least a portion of the flexible cable is retractable and stored on a spool in the housing and can be extended to variable lengths to accommodate the distance from the receptacle assembly to the memory card slot of the host device.
 12. The memory card expander assembly of claim 11 wherein the flexible cable is routed through one of a plurality of openings in the side of the housing when the adaptor is connected to the memory card slot.
 13. The memory card expander assembly of claim 1 wherein the receptacle assembly includes a wireless transmitter and wireless receiver operative to wirelessly communicate with the adaptor, and wherein the adaptor includes a wireless transmitter and wireless receiver for data communication and transmission.
 14. The memory card expander of claim 1 wherein the adaptor and the expanded memory card slot have interfaces or form factors of one of the flash memory cards in the group comprising miniSD, microSD, SD, MMCmobile, MMCmicro, MMC Plus, MMC, USB, Mini USB, Micro USB, Compact Flash, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Micro, and Memory Stick PRO.
 15. A memory card expander assembly comprising: an assembly housing including an openable cover and operative to be attached to a housing of a host device; an adaptor shaped to be connected to a memory card slot of the host device, the adaptor being connected to the memory card slot when the expander assembly is in use and being secured within the assembly housing and under the cover of the assembly housing when the expander assembly is not in use; and a receptacle assembly provided in the assembly housing and operative to communicate with the adaptor, wherein the receptacle assembly includes an expanded memory card slot operative to connect to a memory card such that the host device can communicate with the connected memory card when the adaptor is connected to the memory card slot.
 16. The memory card expander assembly of claim 15, wherein the adaptor has a first physical size, and wherein the expanded memory card slot and the connected memory card have a second physical size larger than the first physical size, and wherein the connected memory card having the second physical size is able to hold a greater amount of memory than a memory card having the first physical size.
 17. The memory card expander assembly of claim 15 wherein the receptacle assembly is connected to the adaptor via a flexible cable.
 18. The memory card expander assembly of claim 17 wherein the adaptor is a first adaptor coupled to a second adaptor by the flexible cable, and wherein the second adaptor is connected to a receptacle in the receptacle assembly.
 19. The memory card expander assembly of claim 17 wherein the flexible cable is retractable and stored on a spool in the assembly housing and can be extended to variable lengths to accommodate the distance from the receptacle assembly to the memory card slot of the host device.
 20. The memory card expander assembly of claim 19 wherein the flexible cable is routed through one of a plurality of openings in the side of the assembly housing when the adaptor is connected to the memory card slot.
 21. The memory card expander assembly of claim 15 wherein a rim of the assembly housing includes a compliant or compressible material allowing a seal between a housing shell and a baseboard of the assembly housing, and allowing the passage of the flexible cable at any location through the compliant and compressible material.
 22. The memory card expander assembly of claim 15 wherein the receptacle assembly includes a wireless transmitter and wireless receiver operative to wirelessly communicate with the adaptor, and wherein the adaptor includes a wireless transmitter and wireless receiver for data communication and transmission.
 23. A method for expanding the memory capacity of a host device, the method comprising: providing a memory card expander housing attached to the housing of a host device, wherein a receptacle assembly provided in the housing includes an expanded memory card slot operative to receive a memory card; and providing an adaptor shaped to be connected to a memory card slot of the host device and which is in communication with the receptacle assembly, the adaptor operative to be connected in the memory card slot when the memory card expander is in use and operative to be secured within the assembly housing and under the cover of the assembly housing when the memory card expander is not in use, wherein the host device can communicate with the connected memory card when the adaptor is connected to the memory card slot.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the receptacle assembly is connected to the adaptor via a flexible cable, and wherein the flexible cable is retractable and stored on a spool in the assembly housing such that the adaptor and flexible cable can be extended to variable lengths to accommodate the distance from the receptacle assembly to the memory card slot of the host device.
 25. The method of claim 23 wherein the receptacle assembly communicates with the adaptor using wireless radio frequency transmission, the adaptor being a separate physical unit that can be stored inside the expander housing when not in use and connected to the memory card slot when in use. 